99

(I've removed the video link, as I said I would, and rewritten some of the copy below to reflect the dialogue that was previously in the audio. You - and he - are all back in the realm of the imagination now.)

It was a good day. When we brought the cake in, he sighed and said, "I'm afraid I might make the hundred!" He cut it himself, ate two pieces (when he wasn't busy shelling the green almonds) and after a while reached for the knife again.

"Do you want another piece?" we asked.

"I seem to like it!" he said, helping himself. There were a few presents, many cards, and two shiny mylar balloons, which he marveled at, remarking, "These are the first balloons I've ever been given!" - probably true, he hasn't ever seemed like the balloon type but today, he liked them.

His face had lit up when we gave him the package of green almonds and he figured out what they were. Immediately he set to work trying to crack them - with his few remaining teeth. I took a hammer out onto the balcony and split some for him on the concrete floor. When he got the first nutmeat into his mouth, he smiled and nodded."They don't taste quite the same as they did," he said.

"Well, they've probably been traveling for a while." He nodded, that was true, but he kept eating them anyway.

"Where are they from?" the caregiver asked. "Are they really from Syria?"

My father-in-law looked in her direction and nodded, his mouth full.

"They're from the Middle Eastern market, but I don't know from where. Maybe even California; a friend of mine there says she has a big crop on her trees."

"They're from Bludan," J. said, and his father raised his eyebrows approvingly.

The nuts looked good though - soft and white, as if you took a blanched almond and soaked it in water. "What do you call them in Arabic?" I asked.

M. looked up and said, "Loz. L-O-Z." He split another nuts form its inner shell with a practiced thumb. "The almond-seller used to walk along the streets, calling out "Loz!" - he sold the almonds whole, soaked in water, and we'd go down and buy them -- delicious. These don't taste quite like that."

He had noticed that we were taking pictures. When we said goodbye, he thanked us and said gently, "I probably won't be with you next year, but I hope you will have many happy memories thanks to all the beautiful pictures J. has been taking. He must have hundreds!"

"Thousands, is more like it. I think he has more of you than of any other person."

"Really??" he said, looking rather pleased.

Comments

[marja-leena]

Oh, this really made my eyes water. Imagine, 99! How wonderful that he was able to enjoy the green almonds and the cake and company. Thank you for sharing this video, Beth.

[mary]

Ah, how lovely!
Mary

[leslee]

Wonderful, Beth. Good to see him - and hear your voices, too!

[Szerelem]

Lovely - it's so wonderful to put a face to those wonderful stories you share with his. He seems to have had a wonderful birthday!

[Pat]

How marvelous. How sweet. How simply heartbreaking... or is that my heart opening?
Thank you.

[language hat]

Thanks very much for sharing that -- it was great to see him in action!

[Dave]

Beth, I'm glad the party went so well. But I must admit I was a little taken aback to see the video here; I preferred my own mental picture of your FIL, and I liked the fact that he was nameless here.

[beth]

Thanks, all, for commenting and telling me how the video struck you. Dave, I had my doubts too, and I'm planning to take the video down in a couple of days. If people prefer to see him as a literary figure it may be much better to have him be nameless and faceless, and I hope I haven't spoiled that by making giving him movement, a face, and a voice. On the other hand, readers have have been so interested in and concerned about him as a real person, I decided to take a chance and give you a little bit of what felt to me like a gift yesterday. It's a toss-up, and I'd like to hear what other readers think as well...

[Kaycie]

I love the video. He is delightful and just what I would have imagined. Nothing about him is spoiled for me by seeing how he looks, hearing how he sounds. There is something delicate and wistful about him that fits your previous writing perfectly. Your voice is quite beautiful, Beth. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Natalie]

Beth, he is just as I imagined and I also see Jon's face there - both have noble faces. I understand the reservations about showing the video but I'm also very glad to see it, complementing your vivid word-pictures. I wish I could have given him a birthday hug, but maybe he isn't among the huggables? That cake looks wonderful,by the way!

[Pat]

I like the video (which at my work computer has no sound) which perhaps made the image more impactful - the slow, slow patient fingers working on the nut. He looks as I imagined him - a noble gentleman, and too, (probably because there was no sound) the primate-simian life force that is at our core seems right there on the surface with him. It's a very dear and moving image.

[Robb Kloss]

Tena koe Beth,
Kia ora for sharing. I reckon those green almonds were worth far more more than any money paid for them. What an outstanding present. I too felt tears well up. The lucid understanding in his words is breath taking.
Cheers Beth.
Rangimarie,
Robb

[margaret]

What a lovely video, thank you for sharing. So happy to share in his party...and to hear your voice again!

[Jean]

Still the teacher, huh - spelling it for you? And the 'zee' which is so foreign to me reminding me that he's been an American, a New Englander for many, many years, though his Syrian childhood and youth are still obviously so clear in his mind.

(I did see the video, but haven't been getting around to commenting)

[Pica]

(o)

(plus a little painting for you over at FOH)

[elizabeth]

beth, I haven't gotten around to catching up on comments until now, but I did happed across this in time to see the video, and very much enjoyed putting a voice (moreso than a face) to his words.

While you were posting this, I was headed out west for a family gathering to celebrate a great-aunt's birthday--at the end of May, she did 'make the hundred'. Spending time in the company of someone born in 1908 gave this an extra resonance.

[lisa]

i've been lurking on here for quite some time and have to finally tell you just how much i love your stories (and i have you linked off my blog!)